SUSSEX, ENGLAND. 1944-05-02. MEMBERS OF NO. 453 (SPITFIRE FIGHTER BOMBER) SQUADRON RAAF, BASED AT RAF STATION FORD, DRINK THE HEALTH OF THEIR DEPARTING COMMANDING OFFICER, SQUADRON LEADER D. G. ANDREWS DFC, SOUTHPORT, QLD (SECOND FROM LEFT IN FOREGROUND). HE IS HOLDING A SILVER TANKARD WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO HIM BY THE SQUADRON, AND BESIDE HIM IS FLIGHT LIEUTENANT E. A. R. ESAU, BRISBANE, QLD, WHO WAS ALSO PRESENTED WITH A TANKARD ON COMPLETION OF HIS TOUR OF OPERATIONS. BOTH HAVE BEEN POSTED TO OTHER DUTIES.

William Brambleberry befriended the pilots and ground crew of 453 Squadron while they were posted to RAF Perranporth from April to October 1943. His passion and determination to be the greatest aviator mouse there ever was, earned him the admiration of the whole Squadron and they built William his very own miniature Spitfire.

William was with the Squadron during some important events:

F/Lt D.G. Andrews was awarded a DFC on 10 September for ‘numerous successful attacks on enemy shipping,’ he was then promoted to Acting Squadron Leader and Commanding Officer of 453 Squadron, replacing SQNLDR K.M. Barclay on the 28th of September

During late 1943, Sunderland Flying Boats on anti-submarine patrols were constantly being attacked by land based “packs” of German twin-engine fighters operating from bases in southern France. 453 Squadron, then flying Spitfire Mk VBs from Perranporth, Cornwall, were ordered to fly offensive patrols over the Bay of Biscay to intercept and destroy these “packs.” From (Bad Day Off Bishop’s Rock – Ross Currie – Spitfire Association)

On 8 October, 7 Pilots of 453 Squadron, led by SQNLDR D.G. Andrews, engaged a Messerschmitt BF 110 formation west of Brest. Three of the pilots shot down five of their adversaries – two were destroyed by Flying Officer P. McDade in “FU-L” (EP-242), two by Pilot Officer Leith in “FU-C” (BM-243) and the other by Flight Lieutenant Ewins flying “FU-X” (EP-364). Unbeknown to the Australians, they were fighting against 11/ZG-1 led by its Kommander, the 24 years old Hauptmann Karl Heinrich Mattern, an ace with 12 victories to his credit and a holder of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. No mean pilot, Mattern, at the controls of Messerschmitt BF-110 62-W/NR 120010, coded “S9+SP” he and the others all failed to return from this operation. From (Bad Day Off Bishop’s Rock – Ross Currie – Spitfire Association). FLGOFF H.M. Parker was lost and listed as Killed in Action during this mission.

The Squadron moved to RAF Skeabrae in the Orkney Islands on 15 October with not much action until 2 December, when FLTLT E.A.R. Esau and FLGOFF L. McAuliffe shared a kill of Ju88.

On 19 January 1944, the Squadron moved to RAF Detling in Kent under the second Tactical Airforce (2 TAF) in preparation for D-Day.

On 21 May, FLTLT John Olsson was shot down by flak over France and escaped injury but was captured by the Germans.

In the first weeks of June 1944, 453 Squadron’s pace of operations became frenzied as they provided air support on D-Day and throughout Operation Overlord. Stay tuned for the next post on 453 Squadron’s preparations for D-Day.

Skeabrae - Setting Up

Settling in at RAF station Skaebrae after the move of No. 453 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF are 412047 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt, later Flying Officer) Richard Arthur John York of Maitland, NSW, stoking the fire, and 409147 F Sgt (later Pilot Officer [PO]) Kenneth Charles Kinross of Essendon Vic. PO Kinross was killed in aerial combat with 453 Squadron near Bayeaux, France on 24 July 1944

Laughter Lightens the Load

ORKNEYS, SCOTLAND. 1943-10-20. 404795 SQUADRON LEADER D. G. ANDREWS DFC, COMMANDING OFFICER OF SPITFIRE NO. 453 SQUADRON RAAF, SHARING A JOKE WITH 14319 SERGEANT H. R. MACKINNON, NARROMINE, NSW, THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE GROUND STAFF TO TRAVEL WITH THE SQUADRON TO THEIR NEW LOCATION AT RAF STATION SKAEBRAE.

Our adventurous little aviator mouse, William Brambleberry, is now a gorgeous soft toy. He's perfect for snuggles, imagination games or display. William sits 16cm tall. His flying jacket, helmet and goggles are sewn on and adhere to Australian Safety Standards. William would love to find a home with you.

William Brambleberry was a very small mouse with a very big dream. He was determined to fly a Spitfire and he practised as much as he could until he really did become the bravest most adventurous aviator mouse in all the world. No matter how small you feel or how big your dreams are, with determination and practice your dreams can come true!
This book is based on 453 Squadron, an Australia Spitfire Squadron stationed in the UK during WWII, which saw distinguished service in the D-Day Normandy landings and over the skies of the UK, France and Germany.